Do You Also Worship the Black Panther?

Although Wakanda appeared small and poor on the surface, it was a member state of the United Nations.

Therefore, King T’Chaka of Wakanda’s visit to the Benevolence Society was of an entirely different caliber.

After all, this was the first time the Benevolence Society had received a head of state.

So the preparations took quite some time, and the formal meeting was scheduled for after the joint experimental fields had been completed.

Wakanda lay on the equator, with abundant lakes and rivers, plentiful rainfall, lush vegetation, and springlike weather all year round. The experimental fields were established during the rainy season.

Based on the region’s annual "drought-rain-drought-rain" seasonal cycle, the Benevolence Society deployed Foundation No.5, a Drought-Flood Regulation moss.

This moss absorbed and diverted rainwater during the rainy season, channeling it underground and into nearby bodies of water. During the dry season, it actively drew water from fixed sources and transported it throughout the moss network.

During the rainy season, it prevented excessive rainfall from rotting crop roots, while during the dry season, it ensured water supplies for crops without relying on irrigation systems.

Thus, even before the formal meeting began, the Wakanda-Benevolence Society experimental fields had already yielded their first crop of wheat…

And it was only January!

The astonishing speed and yield made T’Chaka even more curious about the Benevolence Society.

Since this was Wakanda, Oaks chose the Nature Guardian as the reception venue.

Piloted personally by Natasha, a modified Quinjet reserved for the Avengers brought King T’Chaka of Wakanda and Prince T’Challa to the Nature Guardian, which hovered above the Pacific High Seas.

The journey of over sixteen thousand kilometers left a deep impression on them.

"This really is… even more impressive than the rumors!"

The moment he stepped off the aircraft, the young T’Challa could not help but marvel.

The Benevolence Society’s headquarters being a massive Ark floating in the sky had practically become a legend.

After all, very few people had actually seen it.

The Nature Guardian normally remained cloaked above the clouds over international waters. Even planes passing along nearby routes could not see this colossal vessel.

Moreover, the Benevolence Society’s members were all extremely tight-lipped. The occasional leaked information only revealed a few interior scenes, and eventually, most people stopped caring about the gigantic Ark.

Compared to the vague and elusive Ark, the streets around Little Rainforest, which had become a "forest within the city," were the natural miracle people loved to discuss.

What people paid even more attention to now was the powerful ecological restoration capability Oak Environmental Technology Company had demonstrated through the Benevolence Society—

As environmental awareness increasingly took root in people’s minds, many companies struggling to reduce emissions due to rapidly shifting government policies and international trends began treating the Benevolence Society and Oak Environmental Technology Company as honored guests.

The American Western Desert being restored by the Benevolence Society had already achieved astonishing results. Even the government had begun referring to Oaks’s opinions while drafting new environmental plans.

Under these circumstances, Oaks’s contact with Wakanda and his actions regarding the food industry escaped much scrutiny and could proceed in secret.

T’Chaka also approved of this arrangement. After all, Wakanda had kept a low profile for centuries. Discretion had practically become instinctive.

Though Wakanda had beautiful natural scenery of its own, admiring such landscapes from an Ark above the stratosphere was unprecedented even for Wakandans.

Not to mention the boundless ocean stretching in every direction.

"Natasha, thanks for your hard work."

Oaks greeted Natasha as she jumped down from the aircraft. She rolled her eyes.

"Please. I had barely gotten a drink of water before I was sent on another assignment. Captain and the others are still hunting Hydra all over the world—

"Those bastards really are impossible to get rid of."

Natasha headed for the lounge on her own.

"Take good care of the guests. This visit isn’t on the usual level."

"Got it. Don’t worry."

Oaks smiled and nodded, then turned with Vice President Blaze Clark toward T’Challa and T’Chaka, who were stepping off the aircraft in suits under the escort of the female guard.

"Welcome aboard the Nature Guardian, Your Majesty T’Chaka, Prince T’Challa."

Oaks and Blaze bowed to the two Black Panthers, then gestured ahead.

"This is the first time the Benevolence Society has hosted national leaders. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

"Ha ha ha… of course not, President Oaks. I’ve heard so much about you!"

The instant T’Chaka saw Oaks, his eyes lit up.

He exchanged a glance with T’Challa beside him, and both saw surprise in the other’s eyes.

But that surprise vanished in an instant. T’Chaka smiled and shook Oaks’s hand.

"This is a secret visit, so simple is better. There are many matters I can hardly wait to discuss with you."

"Oh?"

Oaks raised an eyebrow. This Black Panther king was far friendlier than he had expected.

However, he had also sensed something unusual about the two men before him, so he smiled and nodded.

"Then we’ll skip the unnecessary formalities and get straight to the point—I believe both sides will gain quite a bit from this."

Inside the Nature Guardian’s highest-level reception room, T’Chaka and T’Challa surveyed the technology within, which was no less advanced than Wakanda’s.

Blended into naturalistic decor, it shared some similarities with Wakanda’s traditional philosophy.

Only T’Chaka, T’Challa, and Oaks were in the room. The female guard stood watch outside the door, while the Benevolence Society had not assigned a single guard.

What a joke. If Oaks needed guards, how strong would they have to be?

"First, President Oaks, thank you for your trust in Wakanda, as well as your generosity—

"We have established the secret experimental fields. The first batch of Foundation-series modified moss has been planted on a trial basis, and the results have been excellent."

King T’Chaka was clearly delighted. This powerful moss, similar to a growing medium, had improved the inadequate irrigation systems across Africa.

As long as there was a fixed water source, the moss could draw water on its own to supply itself and the crops planted on it. It truly eliminated the agricultural infrastructure problem that troubled African nations the most.

Although Wakanda was advanced, its agricultural sector was merely ordinary and lacked such expertise.

Their population was not large, and they had remained isolated. Even an average agricultural standard was enough to ensure their people were well-fed and clothed.

"Moreover, it isn’t only the miraculous Foundation No.5 moss. Your wheat variety is equally unbelievable."

T’Challa cleared his throat softly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Abundance One high-yield wheat produces a terrifying one hundred percent more than the global average wheat yield—

"This is a great achievement capable of shaking the world. Combined with the Foundation-series moss, it can practically be said to have no planting difficulty at all.

"Before this, we never would have imagined that technology of this level would be available for us to test."

"Since its founding, the Benevolence Society has always kept its eyes on the entire world. That is what I have consistently emphasized and instructed our members to do."

Oaks smiled and spread his hands.

"The same philosophy applies to Oak Environmental Technology Company, which shares the same origins. That is why I established our headquarters on the high seas—

"To be frank, the Europe Branch has already been completed. Once the Africa Branch is finished, Little Rainforest in New York will officially become the Benevolence Society’s America Branch."

"Ha ha… I imagine the President of the United States will have quite the headache."

T’Chaka was in high spirits, and Oaks looked more pleasing to him by the moment.

"We also tested Stark’s fully automated irrigation, harvesting, and processing robots. They were quite good… though unfortunately, we did not get to see their irrigation function."

He made a small joke, and Oaks and T’Challa both laughed.

"You are very different from the other Avengers, including in your fighting style."

T’Chaka looked at Oaks approvingly.

"You seem to be the only Avenger who has successfully avoided civilian casualties in every battle."

"Uh, that is probably related to my abilities. We also established an algorithm based on the humanities and social sciences to guide our operations and avoid involving civilians as much as possible."

Oaks rubbed his nose. He accepted that praise without the slightest hesitation—

In fact, it was precisely because he had intervened in certain incidents that this old king had avoided the fate of dying soon.

And many others had avoided misfortune as well.

"Your decision to establish a branch in Wakanda truly took me by surprise."

The smile on T’Chaka’s face broadened.

"The conditions here are harsh. Although Jack is a fine young man, your members are accustomed to the comfortable lives of big cities. Can they truly adapt?"

"Please rest assured. The personnel we have trained through environmental protection and public welfare work can absolutely carry out their tasks perfectly. We will also provide rotating leave and additional allowances."

Once Wakanda’s true situation was exposed, they would probably rush there even if leave and allowances were canceled…

"That’s good… I will provide a sufficiently large venue free of charge, as thanks for your assistance."

T’Chaka finally settled the matter, but what he said next made Oaks narrow his eyes slightly.

"Now then, President Oaks, there is another matter I specifically came here to ask about."

"Ask? Not at all… What assistance does Your Majesty require?"

Oaks lifted the coffee before him and took a sip, while T’Chaka and T’Challa grew slightly more serious.

"President Oaks… Wakanda worships Bast, the Black Panther Goddess. I have heard that the animal forms of Druids are also connected to deities…"

He looked earnestly at Oaks, who had set down his cup with a calm expression.

"May I ask what relationship the panther god you worship has with Lady Bast?"

"Hmm…"

Looking at the serious expressions of the new and old Black Panthers, Oaks stroked his chin. He had not expected them to ask this question so directly.

The current situation was that they had sensed his unusual nature, and he had sensed theirs as well. Yet… neither side seemed willing to expose it.

Had they traveled all this way just to confirm this matter with him?

Then again, the Black Panther’s power came from Bast, while Celtic Mythology did not seem to contain such a powerful panther god.

"My power comes from Ashaman."

Oaks directly transformed into his Black Panther form, making T’Chaka and T’Challa widen their eyes.

"She is a black panther god."